Blocked duct - HELP - what do i do????????

[yurtgirl]

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If you have a head on it you could have a steamy bath to open the pores and gently press the area and see if it clears.

If it is a blocked duct (someone who knows about whether they get heads or not will come along soon, I'm sure): get the milk flowing through it. Look up ALL the many MN threads on this - hot bath, feed feed feed out of that breast, express as well, comb it (yes) with a blunt-toothed comb dipped in olive oil. You need to clear it.

HTH, babe!

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cabbage leaves in my bra always does the trick for - don't know why! and i've had my fair share of blocked ducts I can tell u!

Hot flannel (as hot as you can stand but be careful not to burn yourself) and lots of massage worked for me. Good luck - they can be sore!

Ibuprofen ie Nurofen or similar. Plus the hot bath/expressing etc mentioned below but ibuprofen exactly what you need as it brings down inflammation which is what a blocked duct is. Don't know about the head on it though- a blocked dust is normally in the duct therefore there is no spot thing???

duct I mean NOT dust (Doh)

Had a blocked duct when BFing - did feel like a pea size lump but didn't have a head on it. Used plenty of massage (almost firm stroking towards the nipple), especially when feeding and it went in a couple of days. HTH

YG - is the white 'head' on the underside of your breast, or actually on your nipple? With a duct blockage, you can get a 'head' on the nipple, but I wouldn't have thought on the breast itself. I suffered multiple blocked ducts earlier on and still occasionally now (ds2 is 8mths). These are pretty painful and if not sorted out quickly can lead to mastitis (which you really don't want - believe me!).You can get redness and the area will feel hard and verrrrrry sore to touch with a blocked duct, but unless on the nipple itself, I don't know about a white head.
You do need to get the milk flowing - yes, use the pump, or hand express, massage in a hot shower - the underside is the worst area for a blockage as it's hardest to get the flow going again from there and your baby is the best tool for the job! Keep feeding on the same side until it goes and take ibuprofen for the pain and to reduce inflamation.
If it isn't a blocked duct and it gets any worse, I should get it checked out as what you say may suggest it may be a bit infected.
HTH

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Do go if it doesn't clear. Mastitis can develop so quickly and you'll end up with a bad infection if you get mastitis. Have had mastitis 3 times and the first two times I had puss coming out of my nipple- so do be careful

ditto hot shower/bath, feeding, expressing etc but the cabbage leaf direct from the frige works for me, don't leave on for more than 20 mins at a time though as it does dry up your milk supply
good luck

ooh, nasty - I had a blocked duct when my milk came in and it hurt like hell. Here's what I did and it cleared within 48 hours:

Ibuprofen 800mg X2 daily (relieves inflammation)

hot compress and loads of massage before feeding - gets some of the foremilk out and makes it easier for the baby to extract the rest (I'm assuming you're a bit engorged?)

cold compress for 20-25mins after feeding.

hope you're feeling better soon

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or it could be where baby rests her chin/hand etc

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